#87
“Ah… ah…”
The pleasure surged rapidly. The firm body embracing him, Anture’s scent, his large and hot hands, the breath falling on the nape of his neck – everything about Anture was excessively arousing Enrique.
“I’m… I’m coming…”
Enrique felt the climax approaching much faster than usual. Anture gently nibbled on the nape of Enrique’s neck, encouraging him. The movements of the hand stroking his dick grew faster.
“…Ngh…!!”
Enrique gripped Anture’s muscular forearm tightly as he ejaculated intensely.
Even with just this brief stimulation and ejaculation, his breath was coming in gasps. As Enrique panted heavily, Anture repeatedly pressed his lips to the crown of his head as if in praise.
“Cradled in my arms, carrying my child, and ejaculating in my hand… Do you know how adorable you are?”
Anture whispered hotly, clearly in high spirits. In contrast, Enrique felt fatigue rapidly overtaking him after ejaculating in Anture’s hand at the end of the long journey.
“…Sleepy.”
Enrique mumbled, feeling drowsiness wash over him. Anture slipped his forearm under Enrique’s head as a pillow and held him tightly in his arms.
“You must be tired after traveling so long while pregnant. Take a nap for now. Don’t worry, no one will disturb you.”
Listening to the softly whispered words, Enrique closed his eyes. Despite being in the middle of a battlefield, it felt as comfortable as his quarters in the Shamier royal palace… no, even more so. Enrique willingly surrendered himself to sleep, not resisting the approaching drowsiness.
“I love you, Enrique.”
Just before he completely sank into sleep, Anture’s sweet whisper seeped into his ears. Even as he drifted off, Enrique felt his lips relaxing into a smile.
*
The establishment of Shamier’s camp proceeded quickly. The Ruben side had already perfectly prepared the foundation of the camp and the defensive palisades. Half a day was sufficient to set up the tents and move in the furniture. Enrique’s tent was erected in the safest spot at the very center of the camp, right next to Anture’s tent.
By the time Enrique woke up from his short but sweet nap in Anture’s arms, his tent was already completed. Unlike Anture’s tent, Enrique’s was perfectly furnished with all amenities. Enrique clicked his tongue briefly as he looked around. A small but plush bed with perfect bedding, an antique table and comfortable armchair, a clothes rack with various garments hanging, even a vase of flowers on the table! It was hard to tell if they had come for a picnic or for war.
Enrique ordered everything that looked decorative to be removed, but Pol wouldn’t budge. While he was Enrique’s chief attendant, he was also a citizen of Shamier. Pol strongly insisted that Enrique’s tent should be made as comfortable and cozy as possible, citing the Shamier King’s orders.
The tense disagreement between Enrique and Pol was interrupted by the call for a strategy meeting. As Enrique left the tent, he snapped at Pol to have everything cleaned out before he returned, but Pol just replied for him to go ahead. It was clearly a refusal.
Having lost to Pol for the first time, Enrique entered Anture’s tent next door, inwardly fuming. The main figures from Ruben and Shamier were already gathered around the table in the tent. Enrique took his place next to Anture, who was standing at the center.
“Then, let’s begin the meeting,” Anture said. Everyone’s gaze focused on the map spread out on the table. In the center of the map was Baron’s Francia Castle. Enrique recalled the Francia Castle he had briefly seen on the way. As expected of a castle built on the frontline of the border, it had quite impressive walls.
“Now that Shamier’s army has arrived, it’s time to begin our assault on the castle in earnest. As this battle will raise the curtain on the war with the Monta and Baron alliance, I believe we should pour all our efforts into capturing Francia Castle in one fell swoop. Dragging it out will only boost the enemy’s morale.”
“But Francia Castle, befitting its role as a border guardian, has very high and sturdy walls. If we try to capture it in one go, we’ll lose a considerable number of troops. Is it worth it?”
“That’s a fair point, but I also think we shouldn’t give the enemy time. Right now, all countries except Baron have turned their backs on Monta, but if they see them defending the castle against us for a long time, there’s a good chance some countries might change their minds.”
“Agreed. Even if we have to accept some troop losses, we need to show an overwhelming performance in the first battle. Today’s losses will surely turn into future gains.”
The mood of the meeting flowed towards capturing the castle with full force in one go. Naturally, the Shamier side agreed. A Ruben official who had been listening quietly spoke up, addressing Duke Duvain who had voted in favor.
“Of course the Shamier side can easily agree, since you’ve only mobilized cavalry. It will be our Ruben infantry who will die in capturing the castle.”
Enrique, who had been listening silently, couldn’t hold back anymore.
“That’s quite an insulting remark. Now that Ruben and Shamier have formed an alliance, we shouldn’t think of the soldiers of the two countries separately. When the time comes for our Shamier cavalry to be deployed, we will achieve victory no matter what sacrifices we have to make. We didn’t come all this way just to watch Ruben fight.”
As Enrique finished speaking, the Ruben and Shamier officials began a battle of wills. As there had been little exchange or familiarity between the two countries before, such discord was already anticipated.
“As I said earlier, we of Shamier didn’t come just to watch the war. Now that we’ve formed an alliance, we shouldn’t think of Ruben and Shamier troops separately, at least until this war is over. Infantry have their role, and cavalry have theirs. If anyone makes remarks that crack the alliance again, I’ll have them removed from this meeting.”
Enrique spoke in a heavy voice, making eye contact with each of the officials from both countries gathered around the table. Perhaps because it was the Crown Prince of Shamier saying this, a hint of defiance flashed in the eyes of a couple of Ruben officials. But they didn’t openly rebel. Since Enrique had never expected the people of the Ruben Empire to obey him anyway, he decided to be satisfied with this much.
As the atmosphere settled, Anture pointed to several places on the map.
“According to our spies, these three spots have the thinnest walls. Let’s place one catapult at each of these locations. And since this side has the lowest walls, it would be appropriate to set up siege towers when their guard is down.”
Anture spoke without hesitation, as if they had already planned the siege before the Shamier party arrived. Enrique gave a signal to Duke Duvain with his eyes. Duke Duvain then spoke up at an appropriate moment.
“Then we of Shamier will lead our cavalry to cut off the enemy’s supply lines and thoroughly block the routes for reinforcements.”
Anture nodded at Duke Duvain’s proposal.
“That’s exactly what I was going to ask of the Shamier side. In a siege, cutting off supplies and reinforcements is most crucial, so I’ll be counting on you.”
“Leave it to us.”
It finally felt like things were starting to come together. The meeting now moved on to assigning detailed tasks and schedules to each unit. While Enrique didn’t particularly voice his opinions, he carefully committed the contents of the meeting to memory.
As the meeting progressed into more detailed aspects, Enrique, while listening intently, suddenly felt a slight cramping in his stomach and furrowed his brow slightly. He must have been standing for too long suddenly. Or it could have been from being too tense. Anyway, it was in the middle of a serious meeting. Enrique tried to refocus on the meeting without showing any signs. But Anture’s voice, which had been continuing seriously, suddenly stopped.
People looked at Anture with puzzled eyes. Enrique did the same. Anture suddenly stretched out both hands, one arm wrapping around Enrique’s shoulders and the other gently cradling his lower abdomen.
“Is your stomach uncomfortable?”
Anture asked with a worried face. Enrique blinked in surprise. What was he doing in the middle of a serious military meeting?
“This won’t do. I’ve kept you standing for too long. Go back to your tent and lie down for a bit. No, I’ll take you there myself.”
Anture tried to lift Enrique into his arms. Enrique pushed strongly against Anture’s chest.
“What are you doing in the middle of an important meeting?”
Enrique snapped with displeased eyes.
This was a meeting he was attending as the Commander-in-Chief and Crown Prince of Shamier. Showing weakness could greatly damage his dignity and authority. Yet to openly talk about stomach discomfort or standing for too long like this – it was embarrassing and insulting.
